Nationalencyklopedin (NE) - Designing a new generation of digital learning

Overview

The National Encyclopedia (NE) is Sweden's leading educational platform, trusted by schools, teachers, and students for reliable knowledge. As learning became increasingly digital, NE wanted to inspire a younger generation of learners by making its vast knowledge base accessible, engaging, and intuitive for children.

As Art Director and Digital Designer, I led the concept development, visual direction, UX/UI design, and illustration of NE Junior—a digital learning platform designed to spark curiosity and encourage independent learning.

The Challenge

Traditional encyclopedia content wasn't designed for young children. NE needed a way to introduce students aged 3–12 to trusted knowledge through an experience that felt playful, intuitive, and engaging while supporting teachers in the classroom.

The challenge was to transform a complex encyclopedia into a digital product that children could confidently explore on their own.

My Role

I led the creative vision for NE Junior, including:

Concept Development
Art Direction
UX/UI Design
Visual Design
Illustration
Design System
Product Design
Cross-functional collaboration with developers, editors, and product owners

The Solution

We created NE Junior, a digital learning ecosystem built around curiosity and exploration.

At the heart of the experience was a child-friendly visual search engine powered by NE's extensive encyclopedia database. Instead of presenting information through text-heavy interfaces, we designed a colorful, card-based experience that encouraged discovery and made learning feel approachable.

To complement the platform, I designed six educational iPad applications focused on early literacy, numeracy, creativity, and problem-solving. Each app was built around playful interactions and supported children's natural way of learning through exploration.

The visual identity featured inclusive, gender-neutral illustrations with a sense of imagination, helping children build positive associations with learning while creating a distinctive and engaging experience.

Results

The project transformed how younger audiences engaged with Sweden's largest encyclopedia.

Impact

Developed a digital learning platform used by thousands of schools and students across Sweden.
Made trusted educational content accessible to children aged 3–12 through intuitive digital experiences.
Helped position NE as a leading digital learning resource for Swedish primary education.

Key Takeaways

Designing for children requires more than simplifying information—it requires understanding how curiosity drives learning.

By combining human-centered design, playful interactions, and educational goals, we created a platform that made discovering knowledge feel exciting while maintaining the credibility and trust that define the National Encyclopedia.